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West Allegheny rallies past Franklin Regional to capture WPIAL boys soccer championship

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Saturday, November 1, 2025 | 2:27 PM

Sophomore Michael Johnson is a lightweight wrestler at West Allegheny and competes at 106 pounds.

He spends the fall season playing midfielder and defender for the soccer team where, oftentimes, he is the smallest player on the field. On Saturday afternoon, the diminutive speedster played a gigantic role as he and his teammates took down a heavyweight.

Johnson had a goal and an assist as eighth-seeded West Allegheny knocked off No. 3 Franklin Regional, 2-1, to win the WPIAL Class 3A boys soccer championship at Highmark Stadium.

“We had to keep working hard and win every ball,” Johnson said. “We had to be tough.”

The matchup had size and brute strength all over the field, with a pair of long goalkeepers — Emerson Bush of Franklin Regional is 6-foot-6, West Allegheny’s Zach Wallace 6-5 — and fouls were plentiful in a game that crushed the over-under.

Johnson went toe-to-toe with some of Franklin Regional’s big hitters, including 6-2 junior center back Thomas Bridges, with whom he collided and stared down as Bridges got back up.

“(Johnson) has that low center of gravity, an inch off the ground,” West Allegheny third-year coach Scott Zemba said. “He is one of the toughest kids on the field every single game.”

West Allegheny (14-6) overcame an early deficit with two goals in less than a minute late in the first half to hold off the Panthers (18-4), who finished as the district runner-up for the second straight season.

The Indians, who also upset No. 1 Hampton and No. 5 Thomas Jefferson to get to Highmark, won their first title since 2013.

“We stuck to the plan,” Zemba said. “We knew this would be a physical game. We had to climb back into it. We’ve done a much better job handling leads. Today, it was a work-rate thing.”

Franklin Regional, which allowed two goals in a game one other time this season, was in the finals for the fifth time in seven years but couldn’t capture its third title.

The Panthers’ championship wins in 2018 and ’19 came against West Allegheny.

“We played extremely well in the first 20 (minutes),” Panthers second-year coach Nick White said. “We created a lot of chances and did well to get a lead. West A is a good team, and they are on a roll. After the first third of the season, they found their way and carried that momentum into the playoffs.”

All the scoring came in the first half.

Down 1-0, West Allegheny responded in a flurry to pull even and then go ahead.

Playing wide with Johnson creating from the wing, the Indians molded two deliberate chances in the run of play.

Johnson sent a cross in front to Harrison Murray, who netted the equalizer in the 36th minute. The ball was tipped initially by Bush, who made three saves.

The Indians used the momentum to pull in front. Jonah Luffe, who was yellow-carded earlier, bent a through ball to Johnson, who scored back post off his shin to make it 2-1.

“That cross was perfect,” White said. “I didn’t think that minute would sink us. Our guys kept fighting. We did everything we could to push for the equalizing goal.

“I am really disappointed for our guys. They all really wanted this. This group of seniors, they do the right thing and play the right way.”

Senior Fabrizzio Costa had the goal for Franklin Regional, scoring in the 21st minute.

Bridges made a run down the left side, dribbled inside and touched to Costa.

“The plan today was good until it wasn’t, and that’s on me,” White said. “At the end of the day, it’s my job to help the boys, put them in the best situation and provide the best preparation. I needed to make better adjustments. I let them down. They did everything they were asked to do.”

Both teams will begin the PIAA playoffs Tuesday. West Allegheny will host York Suburban (13-6-2), and Franklin Regional travels to Hollidaysburg (16-2-1).

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

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